Bank of America Goes on Offense

Bank of America Corp. reported a fourth-quarter loss of $1.79 billion Friday and went on the offensive to answer critics and shore up support for the giant Charlotte, N.C., lender during a time of crisis.

The loss, the first for Bank of America since its predecessor NCNB Corp. posted a loss in 1991, was down from a net income of $268 million a year ago. It came on the same day details emerged of a new agreement with the U.S. that...